Apparatus for forming and collecting filaments



R. E. SMITH 3,334,980

APPARATUS FOR FORMING AND COLLECTING FILAMENTS Aug. 8, 1967 Filed July 15, 1964 INVENTOR. Roy .5. 5714/ TH AT TOAA/EVS United States Patent 3,334,980 APPARATUS FOR FORMING AND COLLECTING FILAMENTS Roy E. Smith, Anderson, S.C., assignor to Owens-Corning Fiberglas Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed July 15, 1964, Ser. No. 382,792 5 Claims. (Cl. 65-11) This invention relates to method of and apparatus for forming continuous filaments from heat-softened attenuable material and more especially to a method and apparatus for attenuating filaments from streams of heatsoftened glass or other heat-softened material and collecting a strand of the filaments 'by winding the strand on a strand collector.

It has been a practice to wind a strand of continuous filaments, such as filaments of glass, upon a sleeve or tube mounted on a rotatable collet or mandrel and, at the completion of the strand package to bring the collet to rest, dotf the completed package, afiix an empty collector or tube on'the collet and initiate winding of the strand on the empty collector. This procedure of winding a single package necessitates interrupting attenuation at the completion of each package and subsequent restart of attenuating operations to form a succeeding package.

Interruption of attenuation of glass streams results in temperature instabilities at the stream feeder or bushing with the formation of each package. Each interruption of attenuation to dolf the package and apply an empty tube or collector to the mandrel involves reducing high speed linear attentuation of the filaments to a zero value and, during this reduction of speed the filaments are of nonuniform and nouusable size and become Waste. During start up of winding a new package to bring the collet and collector up to proper filament-attenuating speed, the attenuated filaments are of nonuniform size and become waste.

The present invention has for an object the provision of a method of successively winding two separate packages of strand of attentuated filaments on collectors mounted in end-toend relation on a single collet without interruption of attenuation when winding of one package is completed and transfer of the strand effected onto the other collector.

An object of the invention is the provision of a method of successively winding packages of strand of newly formed filaments of mineral material wherein a strand guide is disposed during the winding of a first package to enhance traverse of the strand lengthwise of the package to effect crossing of the individual wraps of strand in the package and distribute the strand length-wise of the package and, at the completion of the first package, to effect transfer of the strand to effect winding, of the strand on the second collector to form the second package in one continuous cycle without interruption of filament attenuation thereby reducing the winding time for producing two packages of strand and materially reducing the amount of waste filaments which would otherwise result from interrupted attenuation after each package.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of winding apparatus in association with a strand guiding means arranged to laterally re-align a strand of filaments to wind a succeeding package of strand at the completion of a first package mounted on the same rotatable collet.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus arranged to successively wind two complete packages on collectors mounted on a single rotatable collet, the winding of both packages occurring in one continuous cycle thereby minimizing the down time required for forming two packages and enabling an operator to supervise the operation of several winding machines.

Further objects and advantages are within the scope of this invention such as relate to the arrangement, operation and function of the related elements vof the structure, to various details of construction and to combinations of parts, elements per se, and to economies of manufacture and numerous other features as Will be apparent from a consideration of the specification and drawing of a form of the invention, which may be preferred, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of a winding apparatus or machine and associated strand guide means for carrying out the method of the invention, and

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the apparatus and strand guide means shown in FIGURE 1.

While the method and apparatus of the invention are especially adaptable for attenuating streams of heatsoft ened mineral material, such as glass, into fine continuous filaments and winding a strand of the filaments into successive packages, it is to be understood that the method and apparatus may be employed for packaging other linear or filamentary materials where it is desirable to form successive packages without interruption of winding and attenuation until the packages are completed.

Referring to the drawings in detail, there is illustrated a stream feeder or bushing 10 adaped to contain heatsoftened fiber-forming material, such as molten glass. The feeder 10 may be supplied with heat-softened glass from a forehearth of a melting furnace (not shown) or otherwise provided with a supply of heat-softened material. The floor 12 of the stream feeder is provided with a comparatively large number of depending projections or tips 14, each of the projections being formed with an orifice or outletthrough which heat-softened glass or other filament-forming material in the feeder is discharged as a fine stream 16.

The feeder 10 is provided at its ends with terminals or lugs 11 for connection with a source of electric energy of comparatively high amperage and low voltage for heating the glass or other material within the feeder to maintain the glass at a proper viscosity so that the streams 16 flowing through the orifices in the tips 14 are substantially uniform.

The feeder 10 is formed of an alloy of platinum and rhodium or of other material capable of withstanding the high temperature necessary to maintain the glass or other material in the feeder in a fiowable condition.

The streams are attenuated to fine filaments 18 and the filaments converged into a strand 20 by a gathering shoe, roller or member 22. The fan-like group of individual filaments 18, prior to their convergence at the gathering shoe 22, are provided with a lubricant, size or other coating by an applicator unit 24. The applicator unit 24 is inclusive of a receptacle 26 containing the filament coating material. Journally mounted in the receptacle is a roll 28 and disposed at the forward region of the receptacle is a shaft or member 30.

An endless belt 32 is engaged with the roll 28 and member 30, the filaments 18 engaging the belt at its region of movement around the member 30. The roll 28 is driven by suitable means (not shown) so as to continuously advance the endless belt 32 through the coating material contained in the receptacle 26 and .as the filaments 18 engage the filament of coating on the endless belt 32, each of the filaments acquires a coating by wiping action with the film of coating material on the belt 32.

In the embodiment illustrated, the filament gathering shoe 22 is supported by .a bracket 23 mounted by the housing 26 and the applicator housing supported on a relatively movable support member 36 to facilitate a shift or change in position of the applicator and gathering shoe in a manner hereinafter described.

The winding apparatus is constructed and arranged with a collector supporting means adapted to accomodate two strand or packaging collectors in end-to-end relation on which two packages of strand are adapted to be wound in succession. The winding apparatus is inclusive of a housing 40 having a boss portion 42 in which is journaled a rotatable collector supporting means such as a collet or mandrel 44, the collet being rotated by motive means 45, the operation of which is programmed or timed to vary the speed of the collet 44 during package buildup to progressively reduce the rotation of the collet and collector as a package increases in size in order to maintain substantially constant the linear speed of the filaments to form filaments of uniform size.

During winding of the strand of filaments into a package, the strand 20 is controlled by a rotatable and reciprocable strand oscillator or traverse 50 mounted upon a head, carriage or member 52 supported upon a reciprocable shaft or member 54. The traverse member or oscillator 50 is journally supported by the carriage or head and driven by motive means (not shown) contained within the head 52. The oscillator 50 is fashioned with an angularly-disposed peripheral groove 51 to receive the strand and direct it onto a collector whereby the individual wraps or convolutions of strand are arranged in crossing relation in the package.

The shaft 54 and carriage are reciprocated by suitable means such as a cam member 56 disposed in the housing and mounted on a shiftable supplemental carriage 57, the cam being driven by a motor 58 to reciprocate the head 52 and oscillator to distribute the strand lengthwise of a package while the rotation of the oscillator 50 effects a crossing of the individual wraps of strand. The programming means controlling the speed of the motor 45, a shifting of the range of reciprocation and the reciprocation of the head and oscillator and the means for rotating the strand oscillator 50 are of the character disclosed in my Patent 3,109,602 issued Nov. 5, 1963.

In the arrangement of the present invention a relative movement between the strand guide member or shoe 22 and the collector-supporting collect 44 is provided for initiating and completing winding of the strand on a first collector or tube 46 and then effecting winding of the strand on the second collector or tube 46' without interrupting linear travel or advancement of the strand. In the embodiment illustrated, the guide member or shoe 22 is movable to two positions for accomplishing this purpose. As shown in FIGURE 2, a support means 64 is provided comprising a frame portion 65 and a supporting bracket portion 66.

The frame portion 65 is provided witth abutments or stop members 67 and 68 which cooperate with a pin or member 70 on the movable rod 36 for positioning the guide shoe 22 selectively in one or the other of its strand directing or guiding positions, its selective positions being illustrated by full lines and broken lines in FIGURE 2. Power means 71 is provided to shift the shoe 22 and the applicator 24 from one position to the other.

In the embodiment illustrated, the power means 71 comprises a cylinder 72 equipped with a reciprocable piston 73 carried by the portion of the rod 36 extending into the cylinder 72. Valve means (not shown) is associated with the programming means for controlling flow of motive fluid such as air, into and away from the cylinder 72 for moving the strand guiding shoe and the applicator 24 from one strand guiding position to the other.

It is desirable to change the position of the strand guide shoe 22 to a position with respect to a collector on which the strand is being wound so that there is a minimum of angular movement of the strand in the distribution of the strand lengthwise of the collector, such maximum lengthwise distribution distances for the strand on each collector being shown in broken lines in FIGURE 2. The programming of the movement of shaft 54, supporting the strand oscillator 50, is such that when initial winding of the strand is taking place on an empty collector, it is desirable to build a narrow band of strand providing a flag or signal of collected strand until the collet 44 is increased to a speed at which the filaments are to be attenuated. The narrow band of strand, being formed during varying collector speed, is comprised of filaments of varying size which are not usable. Thus, in subsequent processing operations of the strand, an operator is visually alerted by the narrow band or flag that the usable strand on a package has been exhausted.

This flag or signal is established by maintaining the shaft 54- in a static position while the oscillator 50 rotates to direct the strand onto the empty collector in a narrow band of successive convolutions of strand of a width equal to the pitch of the strand guiding groove 51 in the oscillator. The narrow band of strand is also formed on the first empty collector until the collet and collector are brought up to proper filament-attenuating speed. Due to the operating condition wherein the collet speed is being increased to the desired filament attenuating rate, the strand of varying size filaments forming the band signal or flag is subsequently discarded when the strand is unwound from the package.

The programming mechanism for controlling movement of the shaft 54, carrying the rotatable oscillator 50, is such that the shaft 54 is not reciprocated during formation of the narrow band of strand until the collet 44 reaches the proper attenuating speed, at which time reciprocation of the shaft 54 is initiated to distribute the strand on the collector, the strand being wound over the signal band and distributed lengthwise of the collector to form a package.

The steps or operations in carrying out the method of the invention is as follows: In initiating operations the operator, with the collet in static position, telescopes two empty collectors or tubes 46 and 46' onto the stationary collet 44 in end-to-end relation.

The operator grasps the stand of filaments from the glass streams and manually winds a few turns of the strand on the first collector 46 to snub the strand to the collector and engages the strand 20 in the angular groove 51 of the oscillator 50 with the oscillator disposed at the central region of the first collector 46 and the guiding shoe 22 in the broken line position, shown in FIG- URE 2. The operator then closes a conventional switch (not shown) energizing the motor 45 to rotate the collet 44, thus rotating both collectors 46 and 46 simultaneously.

The action of closing the switch for energizing the motor 45 sets into operation the programming arrangement for rotating the oscillator, controlling the movement of the shaft 54 and the control for modulating the speed of the motor driving the collet 44. During the period that the collet 44 is increasing in speed to the proper filament attenuating rate, the rotating oscillator 50 is not reciprocated and forms a narrow band or flag of crossing convolntions of strand on the otherwise empty collector 46.

When the collet 44 attains proper filament attenuating speed, the timer of the programming means initiates operation of the motor 58 to effect reciprocation of the shaft 54 and the oscillator 50 within a range for distributing the strand lengthwise of the first collector 46 to form a package of strand.

The motor 45 driving the collet 44 is programmed in the manner disclosed in my patent herein referred to for progressively decreasing the speed of the collet and collectors as the first package P increases in size so as to maintain a uniform rate of attenuation or travel of the strand so that the filaments are maintained of a substantially uniform size.

As the package P is being formed, the successive distances of reciprocation of the shaft 54 and the oscillator 50 are progressively shortened to build a package having tapered ends as shown in FIGURE 2. The programming mechanism includes timing means effective at the completion of the first package P to effect the following steps or actions: The gathering shoe 22and the applicator 24 are moved from the position shown in broken lines in FIGURE 2 to the position shown in full lines in FIG- URE 2 whereby the strand guide 22 is disposed in alignment with the mid region of the now empty collector 46'.

Simultaneously with this action the shaft 54 together with the rotating oscillator 50 is moved in a left-hand direction to the position shown in FIGURE 2, the strand remaining in the rotating oscillator 50 and the winding of a narrow band or flag of strand is begun on the empty collector 46. Simultaneously with the repositioning of the guide shoe 22 and the shaft 54 together with the oscillator 50 to the positions shown in full lines in FIG- URE 2, the control for the motor 45 driving the collet 44 progressively increases in speed until the linear travel of the strand 20 of filaments reaches proper attenuating speed.

When the collet is rotating at the proper speed, the

programming control initiates reciprocation of the shaft 54 and the rotating oscillator 50 through a range to distribute the strand on the second collector 46' to form the second package P. During the formation of package P, the motor 45 driving the collet 44 is progressively reduced in speed as the package P increases in size to maintain substantially constant the proper filament attenuating speed.

Thus, the transfer of the strand 20 from the completed package P to the empty collector 46' is effected without interruption of filament attenuation whereby two complete packages of strand are formed before it becomes necessary to interrupt filament attenuation. When the second package P is completed, the programming control deenergizes the motor-'45 driving the collet 44, effects actuation of a brake of conventional construction (not shown) to rapidly bring the collet and the packages P and P to rest and interrupts oscillation of the shaft 54 and rotation of the oscillator 50.

When the packages are brought to rest, the operator manually severs the strand 20 and removes both packages of strand from the collet 44 and replaces them with two empty collectors or tubes telescoped on the collet in endto-end relation. The operator severs the strand between the two completed packages which, through timing of the programming control, contain the same amount of strand.

The operator then manually winds a few turns of the strand of filaments from the feeder on the first empty collector and closes the switch energizing the motor 45, which initiates operation of the programming control to thereafter form dual packages of strand in the manner above described.

The method of the invention forms two packages of strand in succession with-out interruption of filament attenuation so that interruption of attenuation of strand takes place after the completion of two packages where it has heretofore been the practice to interrupt strand attenuation upon completion of each individual package. The winding period for each package formed during a winding cycle may be individually timed or programmed to collect the same amount of strand on both packages or to collect different amounts of strand on each package.

Through the arrangement of the invention thermal instability at the stream feeder arising by interruption of attenuation may occur only between the wind-ing of pairs of packages of strand. The method reduces the time required to form two packages as compared with the former practice of winding one package, interrupting attenuation by bringing the package to rest, removing the package from the collet, affixing an empty collector tube on the collet and re-initiating attenuation and winding on the empty collector.

It is apparent that, within the scope of the invention, modifications and different arrangements may be made other than as herein disclosed, and the present disclosure is illustrative merely, the invention comprehending all variations thereof.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for forming and collecting filaments of glass including, in combination, a feeder adapted to deliver streams of glass, winding means for attenuating the streams to continuous filaments and collecting a strand of the continuous filaments including a rotatable collet arranged to support a pair of tubular collectors in endtoend relation, said winding means including a housing, means mounted by the housing for rotating the collet and collectors, a reciprocable oscillator adapted to traverse the strand to form strand packages, a strand guide means arranged between the winding means and the feeder, a support for the strand guide means, and means for moving the strand guide means to selectively direct the strand toward a collector to effect winding of the strand on said collector and at the completion of a package to redirect the strand for winding on the other collector without interruption of attenuation during ashift of the strand by the strand guide means from one collector to the other.

2. Apparatus for forming and collecting filaments of heat-softened material including, in combination, a feeder adapted to deliver streams of heat-softened material, winding means for attenuating the streams to continuous filaments and collecting a strand of the continuous filaments including a rotatable collet arranged to support a pair of tubular strand collectors in end-to-end relation, said winding means including a housing, means mounted by the housing for rotating the collet and collectors, a carriage mounted by the housing movable lengthwise of the collectors, an oscillator rotatably supported by the carriage and adapted to traverse the strand to form strand packages, a strand guide means arranged between the winding means and the feeder, a support for the strand guide means, motive means for shifting the position of the strand guide means to selectively direct the strand toward a first collector during winding of the strand on said first collector and redirect the strand for winding on the second collector at the completion of a first package, said carriage being arranged for reciprocation whereby the oscillator distributes the strand on said first collector with the guide in a first position and movable to a range of reciprocation concomitantly with a change in position of the strand guide whereby the oscillator distributes the strand on the second collector without interruption of attenuation.

3. Apparatus for forming and collecting filaments of glass including, in combination, a feeder adapted to deliver streams of glass, winding means for attenuating the streams to continuous filaments and collecting a strand of the continuous filaments including a rotatable collet arranged to support a pair of tubular collectors in end-toend relation, said winding means including a housing, means mounted by the housing for rotating the collet and collectors, a relatively movable carriage mounted by the housing, an oscillator rotatably supported by the carriage and adapted to traverse the strand to form strand packages, a strand guide means arranged between the winding means and the feeder, a support for the strand guide means, motive means for shifting the position of the strand guide means to selectively direct the strand toward a collector to effect winding of the strand on said collector and to redirect the strand for winding on the other collector, without interruption of attenuation during a shift of the strand by the strand guide means from one position to the other.

4. Apparatus for forming and collecting filaments of glass including, in combination, a feeder arranged to deliver streams of glass, winding means for attenuating the streams to continuous filaments and collecting the continuous filaments including a housing, collecting means mounted by the housing arranged to simultaneously rotate strand collectors in end-to-end relation, a reciprocable carriage mounted by the housing, means for reciprocating the carriage, means supported on the carriage for oscillating the strand, said carriage being movable in a first range to effect winding on a first collector and movable in a second range to effect Winding of the strand n the second collector, an applicator for applying a coating to the filaments of the strand, guide means arranged to gather the filaments into the strand, a support, relatively movable means mounted by the support arranged to shift the applicator and guide means to alternate positions wherein the guide in one position normally directs the strand toward one collector and in the other position normally directs the strand toward the second collector said strand oscillating means being arranged to distribute the strand on one collector to form a package and at the corn pletion of said package to distribute the strand on the second collector without interrupting attenuation.

5. Apparatus for forming and collecting filaments of glass including, in combination, a feeder adapted to deliver streams of glass, Winding means for attenuating the streams to continuous filaments and collecting a strand of the continuous filaments including a housing, a rotatable collet arranged to support tubular collectors in end-to-end relation, means mounted by the housing for rotating the collet and collectors, a reciprocable carriage mounted by the housing, means for reciprocating the carriage, a strand oscillator rotatably supported on the carriage, said carriage being movable in a first range to effect winding of the strand on a first collector and movable in a second range to effect winding of the strand on the second colstrand guide member from one position to another, said strand guide in one position normally guiding the strand toward one collector and in the other position normally guiding the strand toward the second collector, said oscillator being adapted to rotate without reciprocation of the carriage at the start of winding on the first collector to produce a narrow band of strand on the first collector until the collet is increased to filament attenuating speed, means for thereafter reciprocating the oscillator to distribute the strand lengthwise of the first collector to form a strand package, said carriage actuating means being arranged to reposition the carriage for reciprocable movement in a range to wind the strand upon the second collector at the completion of the winding on the first collector, the transfer of the strand from the completed first package to the second collector being effected without interruption of attenuation, said carriage being maintained in a nonreciprocating position during initial winding on the second collector to form a narrow band of strand on the collector and thereafter reciprocated in the second range to complete the winding of the second package.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,622,810 12/1952 Stream et al 242-48 2,846,157 8/1958 Stephens et al. 2,932,461 4/1960 Kimberly. 3,126,268 3/1964 Roberson 6511 3,151,963 10/1964 Cochran 6511 lector, a strand guide member arranged to converge the filaments into a strand, a support, motive means mounted by the support and arranged to shift the position of said DONALL H. SYLVESTER, Primary Examiner. R. L. LINDSAY, Assistant Examiner. 

1. APPARATUS FOR FORMING AND COLLECTING FILAMENTS OF GLASS INCLUDING, IN COMBINATION, A FEEDER ADAPTED TO DELIVER STREAMS OF GLASS, WINDING MEANS FOR ATTENUATING THE STREAMS TO CONTINUOUS FILAMENTS AND COLLECTING A STRAND OF THE CONTINUOUS FILAMENTS INCLUDING A ROTATABLE COLLET ARRANGED TO SUPPORT A PAIR OF TUBULAR COLLECTORS IN ENDTO-END RELATION, SAID WINDING MEANS INCLUDING A HOUSING, MEANS MOUNTED BY THE HOUSING FOR ROTATING THE COLLET AND COLLECTORS, A RECIPROCABLE OSCILLATOR ADAPTED TO TRAVERSE TO STRAND TO FORM STRAND PACKAGES, A STRAND GUIDE MEANS ARRANGED BETWEEN THE WINDING MEANS AND THE FEEDER, A SUPPORT FOR THE STRAND GUIDE MEANS, AND MEANS FOR MOVING THE STRAND GUIDE MEANS TO SELECTIVELY DIRECT TO STRAND TOWARD A COLLECTOR TO EFFECT WINDING OF THE STRAND ON SAID COLLECTOR AND AT THE COMPLETION OF A PACKAGE TO REDIRECT THE STRAND OF WINDING ON THE OTHER COLLECTOR WITHOUT INTERRUPTION OF ATTENUATION DURING A SHIFT OF THE STRAND BY THE STRAND GUIDE MEANS FROM ONE COLLECTOR TO THE OTHER. 